Programmes We Fund

Funds raised by the Movember community are allowing Action Prostate Cancer and the Irish Cancer Society to carry out a number of key programmes that are making a tangible difference to the lives of men and their families. This is hugely important when you consider Irish men have a one-in-eight chance of developing prostate cancer. Prostate cancer rates in Ireland are the highest in Europe and amongst the highest in the world.

Across Ireland too many men are living with the consequences of prostate cancer treatment, often without adequate support and treatment. There are major issues which need to be addressed to improve services for men living after prostate cancer.

The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has made one of its core strategic goals to transform prostate cancer care in Ireland. The funds you raised are helping in achieving this.



Programme 1: New Prostate Cancer Research Grant
This new prostate cancer research grant will encourage collaborative research across universities and hospitals, allowing prostate cancer researchers in Ireland to work together. We have committed €750,000 from money raised by Mo Bros and Mo Sistas for Movember to fund this world class research.





Programme 2: Specialist Prostate Cancer Nurses for the National Cancer Helpline
Movember funds help provide trained specialist prostate cancer nurses available to talk to anyone newly diagnosed, affected or living with prostate cancer. The heavily utilised National Cancer Helpline is a vital service and is one of the significant support aspects of the ICS and Movember funds.





Programme 3: Tangible support for men living with Prostate Cancer
In November, Action Prostate Cancer held its first national conference for men with prostate cancer. The feedback from the conference was really positive with the 141 men who attended feeling empowered and heard. This year’s conference promises to be even bigger and better thanks to ongoing Movember funding from our Mo Bros and Mo Sistas.





Programme 4: Focus on Prostate Cancer Research
We have been able to invite applications for smaller grants to encourage existing cancer researchers in Ireland to focus their attention on prostate cancer. The top three applications have already been submitted. We will update on the success of these applications and projects as they come to fruition.





Programme 5: Movember funds for Men’s Health Materials
Action Prostate Cancer distribute free fact sheets, booklets and information to men and their families, friends and carers across Ireland. This information is of a world class standard and funding from Movember allows Action Prostate Cancer and the Irish Cancer Society to continue to produce these high-quality resources across the country.





Programme 6: Transforming Services for Men with Prostate Cancer
Further Movember funds assisting in the development of this years focused advocacy strategy for prostate cancer to help us transform the patient experience.

We are undertaking a national study to investigate men’s experience of making decisions in relation to their cancer treatment.

We are currently meeting with healthcare professionals treating prostate cancer in over 22 hospitals around the country to get a better understanding of the patient experience. By the end of 2011 we expect to have commissioned a study which will recruit men at the time of their treatment and follow them for a period of at least one year to understand the quality of life impact of prostate cancer across the various treatment interventions.





Programme 7: Encouraging men to become “Prostate Aware”
We want to break down stigma and embarrassment for men when talking about prostate cancer. In November, we partnered with Movember, to run a major awareness campaign encouraging men to think about their risk of prostate cancer and to call the National Cancer Helpline or get a check up with their GP.

We are stepping up our awareness activity to mark Men’s Health Awareness Week in 2011 and rolling out a comprehensive campaign designed to encourage men to talk about their prostate.